West Coast Cycle Route Guidebook by Destination Vesterhavet

WEST COAST CYCLE ROUTE GUIDEBOOK NATIONAL CYCLE ROUTE N1 560 KM / 12 STAGES – FROM RUDBØL TO SKAGEN

DETAILED MAPS OVERVIEW

49 MAPS 1:75000

48 47

WEST COAST CYCLE ROUTE GUIDEBOOK

STAGE 11 LØKKEN HIRTSHALS

STAGE 12 HIRTSHALS SKAGEN 12

STAGE 10 SLETTESTRAND LØKKEN

STAGE 9 HANSTHOLM SLETTESTRAND

NAVIGATE THROUGH THE BOOK On the cover, you will find an overview of the entire West Coast Cycle Route, including indication of the corresponding map pages. The route has been divided into twelve stages and the description of each stage contains a detailed map showing the starting and end points. The detailed maps are done to a scale of 1:75.000 (1 cm on the map equals 750 metres). In addition, the maps show various options for bike service, shopping, accommodation etc. For each stage, six highlights and recommended places to stop along the way are described.

STAGE 8 VORUPØR HANSTHOLM

560 KM / 12 STAGES FROM RUDBØL TO SKAGEN

STAGE 5 HVIDE SANDE THORSMINDE

STAGE 4 HENNE STRAND HVIDE SANDE

STAGE 3 ESBJERG HENNE STRAND

STAGE 2 RIBE ESBJERG STAGE 1 RUDBØL RIBE

STAGE 7 THYBORØN VORUPØR STAGE 6 THORSMINDE THYBORØN

CONTENTS 1

NAVIGATE THROUGH THE BOOK

WEST COAST CYCLE ROUTE

560 kilometres through

the most beautiful Danish nature

ABOUT THE ROUTE Distances and stages Road surface and traffic

Signposting Degree of difficulty

PANORAMA ROUTES Other cycle routes

PLAN YOUR TRIP

11 ACCOMMODATION, ACTIVITIES AND EATERIES

All types of accommodation

World-class activities

Eateries and shopping

Packages

TAKE GOOD CARE OF NATURE Traffic rules

What am I allowed to do in nature?

15 MARINE LITTER ON THE WEST COAST 16

5 WATER SAFETY GUIDELINES

EXPLANATION OF SIGNS

THE 18 32 44 56 66 76 88 100 110 122 134 146

12 STAGES 1. RUDBØL – RIBE 2. RIBE – ESBJERG 3. ESBJERG–HENNE STRAND 4. HENNE STRAND–HVIDE SANDE 5. HVIDE SANDE–THORSMINDE 6. THORSMINDE–THYBORØN 7. THYBORØN–VORUPØR 8. VORUPØR–HANSTHOLM 9. HANSTHOLM–SLETTESTRAND 10. SLETTESTRAND–LØKKEN 11. LØKKEN–HIRTSHALS 12. HIRTSHALS–SKAGEN

You decide

Arrival and departure by car

Trains and busses

156 PHOTO CREDIT

The Thyborøn-Agger ferry

The Esbjerg-Fanø ferry

157 VESTKYSTEN APP

WEST COAST CYCLE ROUTE 560 KILOMETRES THROUGH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DANISH NATURE Danish National Cycle Route No. 1 is one of the longest marked routes in Denmark and probably the most varied, challenging, and amazing cycling experience to be had in Denmark. Using the North Sea as a dependable guide, West Coast Cycle Route continues effortless and at times with a constant cross wind through natural and cultural landscapes that are several thousand years old. Fresh sea air, room for contemplation and beautiful West Coast sunsets are guaranteed. The route winds its way through marshland, heath and dune plantations, past bays, lakes, a geo park, national and nature parks, and along wide and white sandy beaches. Everywhere you look, you will find lots of wildlife on land, at sea and not least in the air. Discover both the oldest and the fifth largest Danish town along with lots of

small and large fishing communities and idyllic beach towns. Not only does this route take you past iconic sea marks, proud lighthouses, and historical mansions in the dunes but also past award-winning attractions and other exciting places of interest. Along the entire coastline, you will experience the taste of the North Sea from delicious ingredients produced by dedicated and passionate people. First-class fish and shellfish, cheese stored in the wind and small, cosy farm shops are just some of the highlights offered by the pantry of the West Coast. In short, West Coast Cycle Route is a 560 kilometres long story about life lived on nature’s terms. The kind of nature that can be beautiful and evocative but also rough and almost mystical. A breath-taking and fantastic cycling experience, whatever the weather. Find out more at www.vestkystruten.dk/en

ABOUT THE ROUTE DISTANCES AND STAGES

SIGNPOSTING

West Coast Cycle Route is one continuous cycle route that covers 560 kilometres from the north to the south (or in the opposite direction) all the way along the West Coast of Jutland.

The route is mainly marked by blue signs with a white bicycle icon and the white text ”Vestkystruten”. A red field features the number ”1” as a reference to the number assigned to West Coast Cycle Route in The National Cycle Route network. A sign without any arrows indicates that you have to continue straight ahead and a sign with the number 12 refers to the North Sea Cycle Route that runs from Scotland to Norway and corresponds with West Coast Cycle Route in Denmark.

In this guide, the route has been divided into twelve stages, each stage featuring its own special characteristics and covering a distance between 25 and 65 km. All stages start and end in a town where you can find public transport, accommodation, eateries, shopping, and entertainment. Obviously, it is up to you whether you would like to cycle from the north to the south or in the other direction, and whether you want to do just one stage, parts of a stage or the entire route.

ROAD SURFACE AND TRAFFIC 70% of West Coast Cycle Route is covered with asphalt but there are also some short stretches with stable sand and gravel such as the natural cycle paths in Nationalpark Thy. We recommend using a bicycle with wide tires.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY Denmark is a flat country, meaning that everyone can manage West Coast Cycle Route. However, some stretches do involve lightly rolling hills (e.g. in the dunes) that might raise your pulse a bit. Be aware that the wind can be quite a challenge in flat landscapes right by the coast, especially on days with strong headwind. On the other hand, you will feel as if you are flying on days with tailwind.

6 405

406

408

409

402

404

407

410

411

401

403

412

413

16 SIGNPOSTED ROUTES ALONG THE WEST COAST CYCLE ROUTE

PANORAMA ROUTES 415

414

416

PANORAMA ROUTES Along the entire West Coast Cycle Route, you will find a total of 16 signposted Panorama Routes, covering distances of 20 to 50 kilometres. You can cycle those either before or after a stage or you can use them as a ”day of rest” when doing West Coast Cycle Route. All Panorama Routes are round trips so that you can start and end anywhere you want along the route. The routes are marked on the maps, and along the route signposted by blue signs with the relevant number (e.g. 405).

OTHER CYCLE ROUTES

You can find further information and print the route descriptions here www.vestkystruten.dk/en

Nissum Fjord Rundt (the inlet of Nissum Fjord, route 17) – approx. 95 kilometres along the inlet of Nissum Fjord. Find out more here www.naturparknissumfjord.com

The area also offers other wonderful cycle routes that partly correspond to West Coast Cycle Route. You can find further information here: Ringkøbing Fjord Rundt (the inlet of Ringkøbing Fjord, route 460) – approx. 100 kilometres along the inlet of Ringkøbing Fjord. Find out more here www.visitvesterhavet.com

Kystsporet – from Vorupør to Blokhus, 220 kilometres in total. Find out more here www.visit-nordvestkysten.com Grænseruten – from the Wadden Sea to the inlet of Flensborg Fjord, 130 kilometres in total. Find out more here www.visitsonderjylland.com

PLAN YOUR TRIP YOU DECIDE You decide in which place along the route you want to start your trip, how many stages you want to do and whether or not you would like to skip some stages. West Coast Cycle Route is one continuous cycle route, but you can use public transport to cover some of the distance in several places along the way.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE BY CAR

You can take along your bicycle on most trains. The same goes for the buses unless limitations apply due to lack of space. Always check with the bus and train companies listed in this book. Use www.rejseplanen.dk or the app Rejseplanen to look for information on departures and arrivals. Here you can also find information on trains on which bicycles are allowed.

If you arrive by car, you can find various options for long-term parking. This book contains recommendations for suitable parking lots for each stage. Be aware, however, that because West Coast Cycle Route runs from the south to the north, you will either have to return by the same route or use public transport to return to your starting point.

FERRY FROM THYBORØN TO AGGER

TRAINS AND BUSSES

FARRY FROM ESBJERG TO FANØ

You can travel by train or bus to and from all starting and end points along the twelve stages of West Coast Cycle Route. In certain cases, however, you might want to start your trip in a railway town in the relevant area and then cycle to the nearest entry point for West Coast Cycle Route.

West Coast Cycle Route includes only one ferry crossing: between Thyborøn and Agger. Obviously, you can take your bicycle along on this ferry. Check out the crossing schedules and prices here www.thyboronagger.dk

Find information on crossing schedules and prices for the ferry between Esbjerg and Fanø here www.fanoelinjen.dk

ACCOMMODATION, ACTIVITIES AND EATERIES ALL TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION

EATERIES AND SHOPPING

All the stages offer accommodation either along or close to the route, including everything from an elegant seaside hotel to camping grounds and simple shelters. During the main season from the middle of June to the middle of August, it is a good idea to book ahead. Look for specific accommodation options at the local websites.

In most larger towns (and in many small ones), you can shop in a supermarket or similar shops, and most towns offer at least one eatery. This can be anything from a snack bar or a coffee house to a nice restaurant. Along the entire coastline you can find tasty, local ingredients and in many places along the coast you will also come across small farm shops or local farmers. It is also worth noting that many campsites feature a small grocery shop and that most hotels have a restaurant which is also open to people who are not staying at the hotel.

For information about free tenting locations, visit www.udinaturen.dk

WORLD-CLASS ACTIVITIES In this guide, each stage contains information on six selected places or attractions along or close to the route. You can find further information about museums, events, eateries, attractions, and outdoor activities by visiting the local websites shown for each stage.

West Coast Cycle Route is a great cycle route all year round; however, out of the main season it is recommended to gather information on opening hours for accommodation, eateries, and attractions, as well as access to services and outdoor activities, from the relevant websites.

PACK AGES If you prefer to book a pre-organised cycle package tour along the West Coast, visit www.bikewithus.dk

TAKE GOOD CARE OF NATURE WHAT AM I ALLOWED TO DO IN NATURE? Everyone can move freely in Danish nature, but we all need to consider animals, plants and other people when doing so. Visiting places in nature is done at your own risk and here are some of the most important rules to follow: • You can move freely in public forests 24/7 all year round. • You may visit private forests from 6 am to sunset, always staying on marked roads and pathways. • You are only allowed to cycle on marked roads and pathways, no matter whether the forest is public or private. • You are allowed to collect berries, mushrooms etc. for your private use.

• It might be difficult to figure out whether a forest is public or private. Look for signs and stick to the rule of thumb regarding red poles in public and green poles in private forests. • Access to forests and other places in nature might be limited, e.g., due to hunting or military activities. • In uncultivated areas (meadows, moors, pastures, heaths, dunes, coasts, and beaches), you must walk and wheel your bicycle. • If you take a break in a public forest or in a public uncultivated area, you must be at least 50 metres away from the nearest buildings. • If you take a break in a private forest or in a private uncultivated area, you must be at least 150 metres away from the nearest buildings.

• You must always adhere to instructions from the owner (if you have a special request, you can always ask the owner for permission). You can check the rules on moving around in nature on the website of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, eng.mst.dk under ”Air, noise and water”. See also www.udinaturen.dk and www.friluftsguiden.dk Before starting your trip, it is a good idea to check the Danish Road Traffic Act for cyclists here www.cyklistforbundet.dk/english

MARINE LITTER ON THE WEST COAST Just one generation ago, nobody really cared about all the rotting rubber gloves, plastic bottles and nylon nets that washed up on the beaches along the West Coast. That is different now. Today, many municipal, public, and private waste removal initiatives have been established along the coast to make sure that litter is removed, assorted and in some cases recycled. Amongst other things, dedicated entrepreneurs have established companies focusing on marine litter recycling along the West Coast. If you would like to find out more about these initiatives, participate in a beach clean-up during your cycle trip or buy your very own marine litter souvenir to take home, please visit REN STRAND, OMHU or STRANDET.

Ren Strand – Fanø www.renstrandfanø.dk OMHU – Hvide Sande www.om-hu.dk STRANDET – Vorupør www.strandet.io/en

5 WATER SAFETY GUIDELINES Along the entire West Coast, you are close to the sea and the beach, and a refreshing swim in the sea during or after a long day of cycling can be very tempting. In general, you can swim anywhere along the entire coastline but make sure to always check the local conditions before your swim. During the summer period from the end of June to the middle of August, lifeguards from Tryg Foundation will be present on selected beaches. These beaches are marked on the maps in this guide. Always adhere to the 5 water safety guidelines tips that tell you what to be aware of whilst on the beach.

The 5 water safety guidelines are like traffic regulations on the beach and most drowning accidents happen because one or more of these tips were not adhered to. 1. Learn to swim 2. Never bathe alone 3. Learn to read the wind and water conditions 4. Familiarise yourself with the beach 5. Don’t loose sight of children These water safety guidelines have been published by Tryg Foundation and the Danish Swimming Federation in cooperation with international lifesaving organisations.

EXPLANATION OF SIGNS 1 -6 1 -6

Highlights Refers to the highlights selected for each stage

Bathing beach Featuring a lifeguard during the summer period from the end of June to the middle of August

Toilet Access to a public toilet. Note that some toilets are closed during winter time

Campsites On many campsites, you can also stay in a cabin and/or a holiday flat. Check the websites of the campsites for further information

Information Note that tourist information is often available at many campsites, attractions etc.

Bicycle services

Accommodation Bed & Breakfast, hotel, hostel or holiday resort Shelter Some shelters are bookable, others are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Check udinaturen.dk for further information Viewpoints A place with a particularly nice view

Long-term parking Options for long-term car parking Shopping Shows the town centre with several options for shopping or one single small grocery shop

Bicycle rental Train station Ferry Sea Mark

Church By the churches, you often have access to toilets and a water tap Food and drinks Shows the town centre with several eateries or one single eatery 17

STAGE 1 RUDBØL RIBE

66 km 12 km gravel, 54 km asphalt

Starting in Rudbøl, your West Coast Cycle Route trip begins just north of the Danish-German border which runs right through the village. You are now in the Wadden Sea National Park which is featured on the UNESCO world heritage list. From Rudbøl, the route takes you through some fantastic marshland before you get to the town behind the dike, the charming town of Højer, which raises up like the entrance to the marshland in the flat landscape with the notable, 22 metres tall mill of Højer Mølle. From Højer, you continue on the dike which protects the flat area of marshland against flooding and storm surges. After that, the route takes you down narrow country roads and through several villages

before you get to Vesterende Ballum and end up on the cycle path that runs next to the dike. Once you have passed the sluice of Ballum Sluice, you continue to the dike of Rømø. Here you can either cycle across the dike and visit the island of Rømø or continue down West Coast Cycle Route a bit further inland. By Rejsby, the route once again takes you to the cycle path by the dike. Afterwards, you cycle past the Wadden Sea Centre and then onto Vester Vedsted and Ribe. No matter whether you stop for the night or want to continue, it is a good idea to reserve some time for exploring the historical town of Ribe and the special atmosphere.

16 m

11,5 km

RUDBØL

15 km Højer

33 km Ballum

8,5 km Vester Vedsted

RIBE

403

RIBE

402

401

19 RUDBØL

STAGE 1 HIGHLIGHTS

Højer

SCHACKENBORG CASTLE

THE MARSHLAND OF TØNDERMARSKEN

Schackenborg Castle is located in the idyllic town of Møgeltønder, approx. 8 kilometres from West Coast Cycle Route, and you can go there by following Panorama Route 401. The castle was built in 1664 on the foundation of the old fortress of Møgeltønderhus which count and general Hans Schack was given by king Frederic III. Following 11 generations of the Schack family, the castle was handed over to His Royal Highness Prince Joachim in 1978. Today, this is the second home of the prince and his family. The swallow-tailed flag in the park shows whether or not the royal family are staying at the castle.

Tøndermarsken is the largest marshland area in Denmark, featuring special nature and a particular culture. Here, nature seems wild and uncontrollable; however, it has actually been meticulously designed and formed by human life, working with and against the water. The area features lots of bird life and in autumn, you can enjoy the amazing phenomenon of “black sun” when huge groups of starlings fly in fantastic formations before settling for the night in the reed forest.

www.visitsonderjylland.com

www.toendermarsken.dk/en

map 1

BALLUM SLUICE

THE MARSK TOWER

Ballam Sluice is located by the outlet of the stream of Brede Å. The sluice is part of the dyke of Ballum-Astrupdiget and together they protect the area of Ballum Enge, located behind the dike, against flooding in case of storm surges. The construction of this sluice was initiated in 1914 but was then delayed due to WW I. Large parts of the facility were built by French and Russian prisoners of war and the sluice facility was completed in 1915. Close to the sluice is the inn of Ballum Slusekro which was constructed the same year, and this is a popular place for a break when visiting the sluice.

From the summer of 2021, you can visit a new and significant attraction by the Wadden Sea in Hjemsted, approx. 3 kilometres from West Coast Cycle Route. The Marsk Tower is a 25 metres tall, spiral-shaped tower that features a fantastic view of the marshland, the Wadden Sea and the island of Rømø from the top. This tower is a must on your bike journey, and you will be able to see it from far away. The area also offers an ice cream shop, a coffee house and an adventure golf course.

www.romo-tonder.dk/en 22

map 4

www.marskcamp.com

map 4

THE ISLAND OF RØMØ

THE WADDEN SEA CENTRE & THE ISLAND OF MANDØ

As a detour from West Coast Cycle Route, the Panorama Route 402 on Rømø is definitely worth a visit. Rømø is one of the Danish Wadden Sea islands, located approx. 10 kilometres into the North Sea. The island is connected to the mainland by the Rømø dike. On the western coast of the island, you will find a very beautiful sandy beach which is one of the widest beaches in Northern Europe. Havneby towards the south offers several eateries and nice shops. Here you can also get on the ferry to the German island of Sylt. In Lakolk, you can also have a bite to eat or do some shopping and this area is full of life in summer.

The Wadden Sea Centre (Vadehavscentret) measures 1.000 m² and offers an exhibition that takes you on a journey through the Wadden Sea landscape seen from the perspective of the millions of migratory birds living in this area. The centre in its current design was inaugurated in 2017 and was designed by architect Dorte Mandrup. This is a special building with a reed that is used both on the façade, the roof and the roofing underlay, making it look as if it is growing from the soil – gentle and made to fit the flat marshland. From the Wadden Sea Centre, you can go to the small, idyllic Wadden Sea island of Mandø by tractor bus.

www.romo-tonder.dk/en

www.vadehavscentret.dk/en / www.vadehavskysten.com map 7 6

map 5

MAP

STAGE 1 RUDBØL N RIBE

2482

MAP

Campsites

1 -6

Ferry

Highlights s. 21-23

West Coast Cycle Route

Train station

401

Panorama Route

Information Accommodation Shelter Shopping Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks Long-term parking Bathing beach Viewpoints Church

3 km

MAP

STAGE 1 RUDBØL N RIBE

26 82

MAP

Campsites

Bicycle rental

Ferry

Food and drinks

Train station

Long-term parking

Information

Bathing beach

Accommodation

Viewpoints

Shelter

Church

Shopping Sea Mark

1 -6

Highlights s. 21-23 West Coast Cycle Route

Toilet Bicycle services

3 km

83 27

2882

STAGE 1 RUDBØL RIBE

Rømø

MAP

Campsites

1 -6

Ferry

Highlights s. 21-23

West Coast Cycle Route

Train station

402

Panorama Route

Information Accommodation Shelter Shopping Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks Long-term parking Bathing beach Viewpoints Church

3 km

83 29

MAP

STAGE 1 RUDBØL N RIBE

8 2

Campsites

Sea Mark

Viewpoints

Ferry

Toilet

Church

Train station

Bicycle services

1 -6

Highlights s. 21-23

Information

Bicycle rental

1 -4

Highlights s. 35-36

Accommodation

Food and drinks

Shelter

Long-term parking

Shopping

Bathing beach

West Coast Cycle Route 403

Panorama Route

Mandø

3082

3 km

Activities, accommodation and eateries www.visitsonderjylland.dk/en www.vadehavskysten.dk/en Tourist information Tønder, Storegade 2, 6270 Tønder Rømø, Juvrevej 6, 6792 Rømø Long-term parking Højer, P-plads Ballumvej, 6280 Højer Tønder, Ved Slotsbanken 10, 6270 Tønder Arrival and departure Tønder Station Train to/from Esbjerg. Change trains in Bramming for connections to the rest of the country www.arriva.dk / www.dsb.dk/en Bus service from Tønder to Rudbøl www.sydtrafik.dk

Vadehavet

STAGE 2 RIBE ESBJERG

37 km 37 km asphalt

The second stage starts in Ribe and follows West Coast Cycle Route further north along narrow country roads and through small villages. By Vilslev, the route turns slightly westwards so that you end up on the cycle path that runs along the Wadden Sea and the dikes. Make sure to stop by the dike and take in the very special Wadden Sea landscape which is mainly a product of the tide. Throughout several millenniums, the water has been alternating between flushing the flat coastline during high tide and pulling back completely during low tide to reveal large seabed areas. There is a difference of exactly six hours and 15 minutes between high and low tides, meaning that the

water overflows the Wadden Sea twice in 25 hours. Usually, the height difference between hide and low tide is around 1.5 metres. The trip continues along the dike until you reach the outskirts of the only larger town by the West Coast, Esbjerg. West Coast Cycle Route runs slightly north of the town centre but make sure to take a break in the town centre to enjoy the impressive harbour atmosphere and the longest pedestrian street in Denmark. Here you will also find lots of restaurants and other eateries, and you have plenty of options for buying supplies for the next stage of your journey. From Esbjerg, you can take the ferry to the idyllic Wadden Sea island of Fanø.

17 m

13 km

RIBE

14, 3 km Trekroner

9,4 km Tjæreborg

ESBJERG

404

403

RIBE

STAGE 2 HIGHLIGHTS

Ribe

THE TOWN OF RIBE

RIBE CATHEDRAL

Ribe is the oldest town in Denmark and no words can ever begin to describe the atmosphere in this Middle Age town centre. The narrow cobblestone streets tell their very own part of a proud history that dates back to around 710. The old town offers lots of eateries, shops, and places to stay overnight. From May to October, you can join the night watchman as he walks through town and shares his gripping songs and stories with you.

Ribe Domkirke is the oldest cathedral in Denmark, and it was built from approx. 1150 to 1250. The name of the church is Vor Frue Kirke. Located right in the middle of town, this impressive building features a variety of styles and lots of interesting details. You will want to reserve plenty of time to visit the church and enjoy the breathtaking view from the tower that reaches all the way to the flat landscapes of the Wadden Sea National Park.

www.vadehavskysten.com

www.ribe-domkirke.dk/visit

map 7

map 8

map 7

map 8

MUSEUM HEX

RIBE VIKINGECENTER

Museum HEX tells the scary story of the fear of witches that hit Denmark and Europe badly in the 15th and 16th centuries. Ribe was at the heart of the Danish witch processes and the most famous case in Denmark took place in the streets around the museum: the case against Maren Splids who was burned on the fire in 1641. Some of the buildings are still there and they create an authentic backdrop for the gripping story of this museum.

Travel 1,300 years back in time to when the Vikings ruled in Ripa (Ribe). At Ribe VikingeCenter, the story about the old Danes comes alive. Ribe VikingeCenter is a centre of historical experiences, featuring authentic reconstructions of the oldest version of Ripa. At Ribe VikingeCenter, you can watch happenings and take part in activities every day, including longbow shooting, warrior training, flatbread baking and Viking games.

hexmuseum.dk/?lang=en

www.ribevikingecenter.dk/en

map 7

map 8

map 7

map 8

SNEUM SLUICE & DIGESØ LAKE

THE ISLAND OF FANØ

Sneum Sluice was completed in 1928 following two violent storm surges in 1909 and 1911. This is the northernmost Wadden Sea sluice. There is a small and cosy collection of huts by the sluice where you can stay. On the inland side of the dike is Sneum Digesø which was created in the beginning of the 1990s when marine clay was dug up to strengthen the local dikes. You can watch the fantastic bird life by the Wadden Sea here by this lake.

As a detour from West Coast Cycle Route, Panorama Route 404 takes you to the small and breathtaking island of Fanø. Following a short ferry trip from Esbjerg, you will arrive at the town of Nordby where you can find nice eateries and shop in small and big speciality shops. The western part of Fanø features a fantastic, long and wide sandy beach where you can do all kinds of activities. The town of Sønderho is a time warp on the southern part of the island where the atmosphere in the old streets is something very special.

www.vadehavskysten.com

www.visitfanoe.dk/en

map 9

map 11

Ribe

MAP

STAGE 2 RIBE ESBJERG

Campsites

Bicycle rental

Ferry

Food and drinks

Train station

Long-term parking

Information

Bathing beach

Accommodation

Viewpoints

Shelter

Church

Shopping

1 -6

Sea Mark

Highlights s. 35-37 West Coast Cycle Route

403

Toilet

Panorama Route

Bicycle services

3 km

MAP

STAGE 2 RIBE N ESBJERG

Campsites

Food and drinks

Ferry

Long-term parking

Train station

Bathing beach

Information

Viewpoints

Accommodation

Church

Shelter

1 -6

Highlights s. 35-37

Shopping

1 -3

Highlights s. 47-48

Sea Mark Toilet

West Coast Cycle Route 404

Panorama Route

Bicycle services Bicycle rental 3 km 4082

MAP

3 2

401

4282 404

1 -6

3 km

Panorama Route

West Coast Cycle Route

Highlights s. 35-37

Church

Viewpoints

Bathing beach

Long-term parking

Food and drinks

Bicycle rental

Bicycle services

Toilet

Sea Mark

Shopping

Shelter

Accommodation

Information

Train station

Ferry

Campsites

STAGE 2 RIBE ESBJERG

MAP

Fanø

Activities, accommodation and eateries www.vadehavskysten.com Tourist information Ribe, Von Stöckensplads, 6760 RIbe Esbjerg Bibliotek, Nørregade 19, 6700 Esbjerg Fanø, Skolevej 5, 6720 Fanø Long-term parking Ribe Station, Tangenvej 1a, 6760 Ribe Arrival and departure Ribe Station Train to/from Esbjerg. Change trains in Bramming for connections to the rest of the country www.arriva.dk / www.dsb.dk/en Bus to/from Ribe www.sydtrafik.dk 43

STAGE 3 ESBJERG HENNE STRAND

From here, you continue through forests and the most beautiful dune landscapes where you have a good chance of spotting deer. Make sure to stop at the sand-covered oaks in Kærgård Klitplantage or by Filsø.

After your visit to Esbjerg, your trip continues past the amazing sculpture ”Men at sea” which you cannot miss. In Hjerting, the beach promenade is a cosy place for a break. Afterwards, you pass a couple of smaller towns before you turn a corner in Tarp, continue across the bridge of Tarphagebroen and then cycle on for a while, enjoying the beautiful view of the inlet of Ho bugt and the Wadden Sea National Park. Just before reaching Oksbøl, you pass a couple of closed down gravel plants which have now turned into shining lakes in the middle of the landscape. In Oksbøl, you can buy groceries before you turn westwards and ride on an asphalt road through the shooting area of Oksbøl to the town of Vejers Strand.

The trip to the town of Henne Strand adds just a few kilometres to your journey and it is definitely worth the effort. In this cosy coastal town, you can buy an ice cream, enjoy the sunset and perhaps stay overnight. After Oksbøl you can do a wonderful detour of approx. 25 kilometres which will award you with some great attractions: the westernmost point in Denmark, Horns Rev, the lighthouse of Blåvandshuk Fyr and not least the internationally known Tirpitz Museum on the outskirts of Blåvand. If it is open, you can do a shortcut back to West Coast Cycle Route by cycling down the gravel road from Blåvand to Vejers through the shooting area of Kallesmærsk.

27 m

9 km

ESBJERG

17 km Hjerting

11 km Oksbøl

15 km Vejers

HENNE

46 km 3 km gravel, 43 km asphalt

HENNE STRAND

406

405

ESBJERG

STAGE 3 HIGHLIGHTS

Mennesket ved havet

THE TOWN AND HARBOUR OF ESBJERG

MEN AT SEA (MENNESKET VED HAVET)

Esbjerg is the fifth largest town in Denmark, and it is known as a dynamic and industrious town. Here you will find a big selection of shops, restaurants, cultural events and activities. The town oozes of life in and around the pedestrian street of Kongensgade. Today, the harbour of Esbjerg is the main service and supply harbour for the Danish oil and gas industry and one of the largest shipping harbours for wind turbines in the world. From the water tower Esbjerg Vandtårn, you have a beautiful view of the town, the harbour, and the island of Fanø.

At the beach, slightly north of Esbjerg, is one of the most important Danish pieces of art, called ”Men at sea”, by Svend Wiig Hansen. This impressive, 9 metres tall sculpture greets all sea travellers arriving in Esbjerg. Men at Sea was installed in 1994 when Esbjerg celebrated its 100-years anniversary as an independent municipality. Made of white concrete, the sculpture depicts the pure and untainted human’s encounter with nature.

www.vadehavskysten.com

map 10

map 12

map 10

map 12

FISHERIES AND MARITIME MUSEUM (FISKERI- OG SØFARTSMUSEET)

FLUGT REFUGEE MUSEUM OF DENMAR

The Fisheries and Maritime Museum in Esbjerg is the biggest museum of the human relation to the sea, the adjoining culture and life below the sea surface in Denmark. This museum has been collecting and showing the maritime history of Denmark since 1968. Amongst other activities, you can visit a large offshore exhibition for great insights into everything from oil and gas drilling to life on a drilling rig, and you can visit the permanent inhabitants, the seals, that are fed daily.

From 1945 to 1949, the biggest refugee camp in Denmark was located in the plantation of Aal Plantage by the town of Oksbøl. This camp was home to 35,000 German refugees following WW II. In the plantation, you can still see the remnants of this refugee camp, including the graveyard and the field hospital. From 2022 onwards, you will be able to visit FLUGT, a completely new and modern museum, which has been designed by BIG | Bjarke Ingels Group and tells the stories of escapes and refugees.

www.fimus.dk/en

www.vardemuseerne.dk/en

map 10

map 12

map 15

THE TOWN OF VEJERS STRAND

FILSØ LAKE

Vejers Strand is a small and cosy coastal and holiday village, located right by the North Sea. Here you can find small shops and eateries, and you can go by car all the way to the beach. The town is located right in the middle of the great nature of western Jutland and is known for its proximity to the sanctuary of Oksbøl Krondyrreservat. Particularly during rut, in September, you are in for a very intense nature experience in and around Vejers when the big stags roar. From Vejers, you can follow Panorama Route 405.

Filsø is the 6th largest lake in Denmark, and it features an absolutely unique natural area which serves as a resting place for 234 different bird species. From 1940 to 1947, the lake was drained off for agricultural purposes but in 2021, the lake was re-established as one of the largest nature restoration projects in Denmark. The foundation of Aage V. Jensens Naturfond owns this area. The place features several birdwatching towers and at the farm of Filsøgård you find a small visitorcenter and the Ellipse Bridge which was established in 2017. You can follow Panorama Route 406 around the lake.

www.visitvesterhavet.com

map 15

map 16

MAP

STAGE 3 ESBJERG N HENNE STRAND

Langli

Campsites

Food and drinks

Ferry

Long-term parking

Train station

Bathing beach

Information

Viewpoints

Accommodation

Church

Shelter Shopping

1 -6

Highlights s. 47-49 West Coast Cycle Route

Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental

3 km 5082

MAP

Varde

N 14

MAP

STAGE 3 ESBJERG N HENNE STRAND Campsites

Sea Mark

Ferry

Toilet

Train station

Bicycle services

Information

Bicycle rental

Accommodation

Food and drinks

Shelter

Long-term parking

Shopping

Bathing beach

Viewpoints 1 -6

Highlights s. 47-49 West Coast Cycle Route

405

Panorama Route 13

3 km 52 82

MAP

STAGE 3 ESBJERG N HENNE STRAND

17 2

Campsites

Long-term parking

Ferry

Bathing beach

Train station

Viewpoints

Information

Church

Accommodation

1 -6

Highlights s. 47-49

Shelter

1 -2

Highlights s. 59

Shopping

West Coast Cycle Route 406

Sea Mark

Panorama Route

Toilet Bicycle services Filsø

Bicycle rental Food and drinks

3 km 5482

Henne Strand

Activities, accommodation and eateries www.vadehavskysten.com www.visitvesterhavet.com Tourist information Blåvand, Horns Bjerge 4, 6857 Blåvand Long-term parking Esbjerg, Adgangsvejen 15-17, 6700 Esbjerg Oksbøl, Strandvejen 2, 6840 Oksbøl Vejers, Vejers Havvej 7, 6853 Vejers Strand Arrival and departure Esbjerg Station Direct connection to Copenhagen and the rest of the country with DSB www.dsb.dk /en Oksbøl Station Train to/from Esbjerg and Nr. Nebel www.arriva.dk Direct bus to Billund Airport from Esbjerg www. sydtrafik.dk

STAGE 4 HENNE STRAND HVIDE SANDE From Henne Strand it is only a short ride back to West Coast Cycle Route and stage 4. Now the route takes you north through the beautiful dune plantation of Blåbjerg Klitplantage where you can find some of the best mountain bike routes in Denmark. In this area, you will cycle through the Danish West Coast Nature Park which covers an area of 22,500 hectares along the coastline from Blåvandshuk to Nymindegab. This nature park has been certified by the Danish Outdoor Council and hosts a varied biodiversity and wildlife. You continue through a long stretch of forest and then you get to the large summer cottage areas of Houstrup and Nymindegab. From here,

38 km 29 km gravel, 9 km asphalt

the landscape opens up and you continue on narrow gravel roads and summer cottage paths in the dunes of Holmsland Klit. This is a rolling landscape with a fantastic view of the inlet of Ringkøbing Fjord in several places. You can also travel this last part on an asphalt pathway next to the road. Some 10 kilometres before reaching Hvide Sande, the route takes you past the sea mark Haurvig Sømærke which stands proudly on top of the dune. Give your bicycle a rest and walk to the top of the dune to enjoy the marvellous view of the sea, the inlet and the dunes. Just south of Hvide Sande, you can often find fast windsurfers and kitesurfers in the inlet of Ringkøbing Fjord.

17 m

7 km

HENNE

4 km Lønne

11 km Nymindegab

18 km Bjerregård

HVIDE SANDE

407

57 HENNE STRAND

STAGE 4 HIGHLIGHTS

Haurvig Sømærke

THE TOWN OF HENNE STRAND Henne Strand is beautifully located on the West Coast and the town oozes of life all year round. In the dunes that surround the town, you will find lots of nice, old summer cottages. Here you can also find nice places to stay overnight and lots of eateries and shops. The beach offers some fantastic sunsets and here, as one of few places along the West Coast, you can buy an ice cream or enjoy a nice dinner with a view of the North Sea.

www.visitvesterhavet.com

map 16

map 17

THE DUNE PLANTATION OF BLÅBJERG KLITPLANTAGE Blåbjerg Klitplantage is a public forest located in the area between Henne Strand and the town of Nymindegab. This plantation has been named after the tallest dune in Denmark, Blåbjerg Klit, which measures 64 metres and is marked by the stone sculpture Blaabjerg Stenen. Most of the area is marked by sand drift which has created some exciting natural features, including dunes, coastal slopes, ”hills”, heath, oak coppice and plantation. The plantation offers walking, riding and cycling paths and some of the best mountain bike routes in Denmark.

www.visitvesterhavet.com

map 16

map 17

THE TOWN OF NYMINDEGAB

NYMINDEGAB MUSEUM

Nymindegab is a picturesque place located at the southern tip of the inlet of Ringkøbing Fjord and it features a marvellous view of the dunes by the North Sea and the Nymindegab waters. Here you can find shops, eateries, and nice places to stay overnight. By the inlet of Ringkøbing Fjord, you will find the small, iconic houses called “esehuse” that were originally used to store fishing equipment and offered a place to live for the “ese girls”. Around one kilometre west of Nymindegab, you will find the most wonderful sandy beach by the North Sea.

Nymindegab Museum is a culture-historical museum featuring well-preserved finds from the Iron Age and the Viking period. The museum is also home to a large collection of more than 200 paintings by Johannes Larsen, Lauritz Tuxen, amongst others, with motifs inspired by the beautiful landscape by this small fishing village. At the museum, you can also see the skeleton of a 12 metres long sperm whale that stranded in Nymindegab in 1990.

www.visitvesterhavet.com

www.vardemuseerne.dk/en

map 18

THE VIKING HARBOUR OF BORK VIKINGEHAVN

THE FARM OF ABELINES GA ARD

From Nymindegab, you can follow Panorama Route 407 and visit Bork Vikingehavn. This place takes you back 1,000 years, showing you reconstructed longhouses and giving you an impression of how the Vikings used to live and work with various trades. During the summer, events in Bork Vikingehavn bring past times back to life but you can also experience the Viking period up-close during the rest of the year: you can go sailing in a small Viking ship in the moat, dress up in Viking period clothing, play Viking games or show your worth at the Viking playground.

Abelines Gaard is located in a beautiful place on the narrow tongue of land between the inlet of Ringkøbing Fjord and the North Sea. Here you can find out how people used to live on the dune farms along the western coast of Jutland in former times. The exhibition “Fortidens ansigter” (faces of the past) lets you listen to Abeline and Esepigen talking about their lives. Children and playful adults can enjoy lots of funny toys and games from older times both indoors and outdoors. Abelines Gaard also features a coastguard station which is the backdrop of many farm stories.

www.borkvikingehavn.dk

www.abelinesgaard.dk

map 18

map 19

MAP

STAGE 4 HENNE STRAND N HVIDE SANDE

Campsites

Long-term parking

Ferry

Bathing beach

Train station

Viewpoints

Information

Church

Accommodation

1 -6

Shelter

Highlights s. 59-61 West Coast Cycle Route

406

Shopping

407

Sea Mark

Panorama Route Panorama Route

Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks

3 km 62

MAP

19 Ringkøbing Fjord

64 Highlights s. 69 1 -2

3 km

West Coast Cycle Route

Highlights s. 59-61 1 -6

Church

Viewpoints

Bathing beach

Long-term parking

Food and drinks

Bicycle rental

Bicycle services

Toilet

Sea Mark

Shopping

Shelter

Accommodation

Information

Train station

Ferry

Campsites

STAGE 4 HENNE STRAND HVIDE SANDE

20 2

Ringkøbing Fjord

MAP

Activities, accommodation and eateries www.visitvesterhavet.com Tourist information Henne Strand, Strandvejen 415A, 6854 Henne Long-term parking Henne Strand, Strandvejen 415A, 6854 Henne Nymindegab, Vesterhavsvej 103, 6830 Nørre Nebel Arrival and departure Nr. Nebel Station Train to/from Nr. Nebel with Arriva from Varde/Esbjerg From there, connections to the rest of the country. www.arriva.dk / www.dsb.dk/en Bus to Henne Strand / Nymindegab from Nr. Nebel www.sydtrafik.dk Ringkøbing Fjord

STAGE 5 HVIDE SANDE THORSMINDE The 5th stage starts in Hvide Sande in the middle of the tongue of land of Holmsland Klit with the inlet of Ringkøbing Fjord as the neighbour towards the east. The inlet, which is shallow and is protected from the West Coast by the long tongue of land, is the largest inlet in western Jutland, covering an area of almost 300 km². The shallow water is ideal for water sports such as kitesurfing, windsurfing, water skiing, SUP and wakeboard. From Hvide Sande, the trip continues through dune landscapes and summer cottage areas, past the lighthouse of Lyngvig Fyr and onto the town of Søndervig. You can also travel this part on the asphalt path next to the road. It is a good idea to take a break in the cosy beach town of Søndervig and enjoy a refreshment or a nice lunch.

12 m

15 km

HVIDE SANDE

7 km Søndervig

52 km 36 km gravel, 16 km asphalt

In addition, this is where you will find some of the largest sand sculptures in Denmark and during the summer period you can participate in morning gymnastics classes on the beach. From Søndervig, the route takes you slightly inland as you cycle between the inlets of Vest Stadil Fjord and Stadil Fjord in a scenic area with lots of bird life. A part of this journey takes you onto an old dike where you have a wonderful view of the landscape because you are slightly elevated. Afterwards, the route takes you back to the coast and the dune of Vedersø Klit and then through the dune plantation of Husby Klitplantage to Fjand. The last kilometres of the 5th stage are done on the tongue of land between the inlet of Nissum Fjord and the North Sea, and then you arrive at Thorsminde.

17 km Houvig

7 km

6 km Vedersø Klit

Husby

6 km Fjand

THORSMINDE

408

HVIDE SANDE

STAGE 5 HIGHLIGHTS

Lyngvig Fyr

HVIDE SANDE HARBOUR AND SLUICE

TROLDBJERG CLIFF

Hvide Sande is a small seaport located on the tongue of land called Holmsland Klit between the North Sea and the inlet of Ringkøbing Fjord. The town and the harbour were established when both a chamber sluice and a drainage sluice were constructed and inaugurated in 1931. Amongst other things, this town is well-known for its water sports and fishing spots by the sea or the inlet. At the beach of Sydstranden, you can see the piece of art called “Vestled”, and a walk on the 800 metres long pier is also a wonderful experience. The small inlet harbour called “Tyskerhavnen” is also worth a visit.

In the middle of Hvide Sande is a tall dune that offers an impressive view of the town, the sea and the inlet. At the top of it is a white signal mast that used to be an important navigation point for the fishermen until the end of the 1980s. The mast would show them the water conditions by the entry. At the top of the dune, you will also find two bunkers that were constructed by Hitler’s men towards the end of WW II. One of them was an observation bunker, the other one a bunker for soldiers. You can visit the observation bunker.

www.visitvesterhavet.com

map 19

map 20

map 19

map 20

LYNGVIG LIGHTHOUSE

BAGGES DÆMNING

Lyngvig Fyr was the last lighthouse to be erected on the West Coast of Jutland. It was constructed in 1906 following a tragic accident in 1903 that claimed the lives of 24 sailors. The lighthouse is located on a 17 metres tall cliff and measures 38 metres. From the top of the lighthouse, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the sea, the dunes and the inlet of Ringkøbing Fjord. Although the lighthouse no longer serves the sailors, every night it emits a rotating cone of light that casts a beautiful light across the entire area. Next to the lighthouse, you will find a small, cosy coffee house, a small exhibition about the lighthouse and a shop.

The Dam Bagges Dæmning is located towards the northern end of the inlet of Ringkøbing Fjord. It took some very hard work to build it back in the middle of the 1800s and it was meant to provide the locals with agricultural land. But just one year after its completion, the water broke through the dam in two places and the project was ended. Today, the connection has been re-established through two bridges that close up the holes, offering visitors a fantastic nature experience by allowing them to walk or cycle “on the inlet”. You can cycle across The Dam Bagges Dæmning as a short detour that ends just before Søndervig where you will be back on West Coast Cycle Route.

www.lyngvigfyr.dk

www.visitvesterhavet.com

map 20

THE TOWN OF SØNDERVIG

THE AREA OF VEDERSØ

Søndervig is a beach town with a long history, and it has been one of the most popular beach towns in Denmark since the 1800s. In many places, you can find nice, old summer cottages on top of the dunes. Today, this is a modern holiday town with lots of eateries and shops, and the town is located in the middle of nature, surrounded by the sea, the inlet and the dunes. The wide beach is easily accessible and offers a great nature experience all year round. A large holiday resort is being constructed in Søndervig, ready for inauguration in 2022.

The dune of Vedersø Klit is one of the oldest and most beautiful summer cottage areas along the West Coast. This used to be a popular holiday destination for the rich people in Denmark and you can still find lots of charming summer cottages in the area. The summer cottages create a nice uniformity because they all have to adhere to the old building regulations. Vedersø Klit is characterised by some very beautiful nature, long and wide beaches and one of the iconic sea marks on top of the dune. In Vedersø Klit, you will find a hotel, a campground and a few eateries. From Vedersø, you can follow Panorama Route 408.

www.sondervig.dk/en

www.visitvesterhavet.com / www.visit-nordvestkysten.com map 21 6

map 20

72 20

STAGE 5 HVIDE SANDE THORSMINDE

Vedersø Klit

Vest Stadil Fjord

Stadil Fjord

MAP

Ringkøbing Fjord

3 km

408

1 -6

Panorama Route

MAP

West Coast Cycle Route

Highlights s. 69-71

Church

Viewpoints

Bathing beach

Long-term parking

Food and drinks

Bicycle rental

Bicycle services

Toilet

Sea Mark

Shopping

Shelter

Accommodation

Information

Train station

Ferry

Campsites

74 1

STAGE 5 HVIDE SANDE THORSMINDE

Long-term parking Bathing beach Viewpoints Church

Information Accommodation Shelter Shopping

Toilet

3 km

West Coast Cycle Route

Highlights s. 79-80

Food and drinks

Train station

Sea Mark

Bicycle rental

Ferry

1 -3

Bicycle services

Campsites

Nissum Fjord

MAP

Houvigfæstningen

Activities, accommodation and eateries www.visitvesterhavet.com www.visit-nordvestkysten.com Tourist information Hvide Sande, Kirkevej 4, 6960 Hvide Sande Ulfborg-Vemb, Havvej 6-10, Vedersø Klit, 6990 Ulfborg Long-term parking Hvide Sande, Kirkevej 4, 6960 Hvide Sande Arrival and departure Ringkøbing Station Train from Holstebro or Skjern. From there, connections to the rest of the country. www.mjba.dk /english / www.dsb.dk/en Bus to Hvide Sande / Søndervig www.midttrafik.dk /english 83 75

STAGE 6 THORSMINDE THYBORØN

41 km 3 km sand, 7 km gravel, 31 km asphalt

In Thorsminde, you are located right between the sea and the inlet in the middle of the Nature Park Nissum Fjord which is located in Geopark West Jutland. In April 2021, Geopark West Jutland was approved as an UNESCO Global Geopark and it includes the municipalities of Lemvig, Holstebro and Struer as well as exciting ”landscapes” below the surface of the sea in parts of the inlet of Limfjorden and the West Coast towards Jyske Rev. The geopark features a fascinating terrain which has been created by ice, wind and water, and this landscape has been providing the basis for human life during the last 9,000 years. The 6th stage continues on the tongue of land between the West Coast and the inlet of Nissum Fjord through small villages and wonderful, rolling landscapes. By Trans, you literally hit the coastline

because the cycle path takes you all the way to the edge of the impressive cliff of Bovbjerg Klint, past the lighthouse of Bovbjerg Lighthouse and onto the small coastal town of Ferring. From here, West Coast Cycle Route takes you eastwards around the lake of Ferring Sø. You can also decide to cycle westwards around the lake on a path along the dunes but then you must be prepared to encounter quite a lot of sand along the way. You pass several summer cottage areas before you finish off the 6th stage with a lovely ride along the tongue of Harboøre Tongue. On the tip of the tongue is the classic seaport Thyborøn which is surrounded by water on almost all sides. Fishing and the harbour activities make up the base of this town and it also offers several nice family attractions on land and at sea.

25 m

12 km

THORSMINDE

7 km Fjaltring

9 km Ferring

6 km Vejlby Klit

13 km Harboøre

THYBORØN

409

THORSMINDE

STAGE 6 HIGHLIGHTS

Bovbjerg Fyr

THORSMINDE HARBOUR AND SLUICE

THE MUSEUM OF STRANDINGSMUSEUM ST. GEORGE

Thorsminde is located on a narrow tongue of land that separates the rough North Sea from the peaceful inlet of Nissum Fjord. This is a truly authentic West Coast town. In the middle of town, you will find the sluice of Thorsminde Sluse which was originally established as a means to drain the inlet Nissum Fjord but these days, it is used to regulate the water level and the content of salt. This vivid fishing port is home to anything from new, modern vessels to the characteristic blue cutters. You can buy fresh fish and equipment for your outdoor activities by the sluice. Thorsminde offers lots of good angling spots and the inlet is perfect for all kinds of water sports.

Strandingsmuseum St. George is located in the middle of Thorsminde. This unique museum reopened in 2017 after a thorough renovation and it tells the dramatic story about the two English liners, HMS St. George and HMS Defence, that stranded by Thorsminde during a storm on Christmas Eve 1811. Around 1,400 sailors drowned in the waves and only seven people survived. The museum tells the story through a unique exhibition featuring hundreds of items that were salvaged from the bottom of the sea by local divers. Here you can also find the stories of other dramatic strandings by the West Coast of Jutland and of how the locals got to meet sailors from all over the world.

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

www.strandingsmuseet.dk/en

map 22

map 23

map 22

map 23

NATURE PARK NISSUM FJORD VISITOR CENTRE

TUSK ÆR CULINARY ART AND CULTURE CENTRE

Nature Park Nissum Fjord is one of the nature parks certified by the Danish Outdoor Council and it covers the area around the inlet of Nissum Fjord. This nature park offers lots of firstclass nature experiences, cultural experiences, and art events. There is lots of bird life in this area which you can experience on bike or by using some of the many hiking trails. In the middle of Thorsminde is a visitors’ centre where you can find more information about the nature park and all its splendour.

Behind the outermost dune south of Fjaltring is a dune farm from 1864 and Tuskær, a culinary arts and culture centre. Here you can find concerts, art exhibitions, presentations, courses and gastronomy. Tuskær is a truly unique place where you can emerge in nature, arts and culture, regain energy and gather inspiration. Tuskær offers a wealth of temporary exhibitions, concerts, project days and presentations. Café Tuskær is the only place in this area to have been awarded the Organic Cuisine Label in gold.

www.naturparknissumfjord.com

www.tuskaer.dk

map 22

map 23

map 24

BOVBJERG LIGHTHOUSE

HARBOØRE TONGUE

Bovbjerg Lighthouse is located majestically on the edge of the dramatic cliff of Bovbjerg Klint. The red lighthouse has been here since 1877 when it emitted its guiding light for the first time, much to the joy of all the sailors going down the ”Iron Coast”. 93 steps take you up to the lantern and the open area at the top offers an absolutely amazing view. The lighthouse itself is 26 metres tall and through its location on the cliff it reaches a focal height of 62 metres. The living room of the former lighthouse keeper Rude has been turned into a cosy coffee house. From Bovbjerg Lighthouse, you can follow Panorama Route 409.

For several thousand years, a sandy tongue of land has made up the border between the North Sea and the inlet of Limfjorden. In 1862, the sea broke through the tongue of land by Thyborøn and created what is now known as the passage of Thyborøn Channel – the outlet of Limfjorden into the North Sea. Today, humanmade coastal protection, sluices and dykes are needed to make sure that Harboøre Tongue is stable enough for the fishing and sea port of Thyborøn to be safe. Harboøre Tongue was registered as protected in 1984 and this area is known as one of the most important meadow bird areas in Denmark.

www.bovbjergfyr.dk

eng.naturstyrelsen.dk

map 25

map 26

MAP

STAGE 6 THORSMINDE N THYBORØN

Campsites

Long-term parking

Ferry

Bathing beach

Train station

Viewpoints

Information

Church

Accommodation Shelter

1 -6

Highlights s. 79-81 West Coast Cycle Route

Shopping Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks Nissum Fjord

3 km 82

MAP

STAGE 6 THORSMINDE N THYBORØN

Ferring Sø

MAP

Campsites

1 -6

Ferry

Highlights s. 79-81

West Coast Cycle Route

Train station

409

Panorama Route

Nissum Bredning

Information Accommodation Shelter Shopping Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks Long-term parking Bathing beach Viewpoints Church

3 km 25

MAP

STAGE 6 THORSMINDE N THYBORØN

Campsites

Long-term parking

Ferry

Bathing beach

Train station

Viewpoints

Information

Church

Accommodation Shelter

1 -4

4 2

Highlights s. 91-92 1

West Coast Cycle Route

Shopping Nissum Bredning

Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks

3 km 86

Thyborøn Fæstningen

Activities, accommodation and eateries www.visit-nordvestkysten.com Long-term parking Thorsminde, Vesterhavsgade 1E, 6990 Ulfborg Arrival and departure Ulfborg Station Train to/from Holstebro. From there, connections to the rest of the country. www.mjba.dk/english / www.dsb.dk/en Bus to Thorsminde from Holstebro and Ulfborg www.midttrafik.dk/english 87

STAGE 7 THYBORØN VORUPØR Stage 7 starts in Thyborøn and from here you continue your journey by taking the ferry to the tongue of Agger Tongue. This journey takes 15 minutes, and you might spot seals and perhaps even some dolphins along the way. On Agger Tongue, your journey continues with a pretty ride along dunes and wetlands with a varied bird life on one side and the inlet of Krik Vig on the other side. Here you might also see a white-tailed eagle. In Agger, you can enjoy some arts, have an ice cream, eat lunch or rent a kayak and paddle around the inlet of Krik Vig. From Agger, you continue along the lake of Flade Sø to Lodbjerg Lighthouse where you will automatically want to take a break. This lighthouse is located

45 km 13 km gravel, 32 km asphalt Thyborøn–Agger www.thyboronagger.dk

in the middle of the dune plantation of Lodbjerg Klitplantage but your route also takes you through the dune plantations of Hvidbjerg Klitplantage and Stenbjerg Klitplantage. After Stenbjerg, the route offers a small detour to the landing area of Stenbjerg Landingsplads where you should make sure to stop and enjoy the iconic landscape with all the small, picturesque fisherman’s houses in the middle of the dunes. The last part of this stage takes you through the dune landscape to Vorupør where you can take a break before continuing with stage 8 or stay the night.

26 m

16 km

THYBORØN

16 km Agger

10 km Svankjær

8 km Stenbjerg

VORUPØR

411

410

THYBORØN

STAGE 7 HIGHLIGHTS

Thyborøn Havn

SNEGLEHUSET

THE AQUARIUM JYLLANDSAKVARIET

Sneglehuset (meaning “the shell”) is a very special and unique house which has been decorated with thousands of shells, mussels and conchs. One single man created this house as a life-long symbol of love for this wife. Inside Sneglehuset, you will find a large exhibition of snails, mussels, conchs, ships in bottles and exciting things that local fishermen have caught in their nets. Sneglehuset features a small shop where you can buy all kinds of amber items, jewellery, conchs and shells, and there is also a small coffee house where you can buy ice cream or enjoy a cup of coffee.

Jyllandsakvariet is a cosy and child-friendly aquarium featuring the sea life of the North Sea, touch tanks, an indoor beach, a treasure hunt and many other activities. On some days of the week, you can assist in feeding some of the animals. Jyllandsakvariet also offers guided tours, such as amber safaris, oyster safaris and seal safaris, and the exhibition called “Iskunsten” (ice arts) which is an impressive permanent exhibition of indoor ice sculptures located in a former cold store at the harbour of Thyborøn.

www.sneglehuset.dk

www.jyllandsakvariet.dk/en

map 27

map 28

map 27

map 28

COASTAL CENTRE THYBORØN

SEA WAR MUSEUM JUTLAND

The Coastal Centre is an information and activity centre offering lots of activities for the entire family. When you visit The Coastal Centre, you go on an exciting journey through the sea, waves, surfs, currents, wind and weather, sand and dunes, seabeds, beach and coastal areas. You can build a dike and find out whether or not it is strong enough and you can try to create big waves. You can also experience the story of “The turtle spy” (Skildpaddespionen) from WW II and the dramatic stranding of the big, Russian frigate “Alexander Nevskij”.

Sea War Museum Jutland uses thousands of underwater finds to tell dramatic stories about the sea war in the North Sea, focusing on WW I and the biggest naval battle in world history, the Battle of Jutland. This battle took place by the West Coast of Jutland in 1916. 100,000 men on 250 German and British vessels fought over the supremacy at sea. The battle lasted for 12 hours and when it was over, 25 vessels had sunk and 8,645 German and British sailors had lost their lives. Adjacent to the museum – in the dunes facing the sea – a beautiful memorial park has been established to commemorate all the sailors who died during the Battle of Jutland.

uk.kystcentret.dk/

www.seawarmuseum.dk/en

map 27

map 28

map 27

map 28

LODBJERG LIGHTHOUSE Lodbjerg Lighthouse was constructed in 1883 using blocks of granite from Bohus in Sweden. The lighthouse is 35 metres tall, and it is slightly leaning because during WW II, soldiers attempted to dig a tunnel from the lighthouse to a bunker towards the back of the lighthouse garden. From the top of this lighthouse, you can enjoy a nice view of the southern part of Thy National Park which is a rough landscape dominated by the dune plantation, the dune heath and the rugged sea dunes. Following thorough renovation works, the lighthouse was reopened in 2019. The former house of the lighthouse keeper is home to a cosy coffee house where you can buy coffee and cake. eng.nationalparkthy.dk

map 29

THE LANDING AREA OF STENBJERG LANDINGSPLADS Stenbjerg Landingsplads is home to a collection of characteristic white storage houses from around year 1900 when coastal angling took place on this beach. Today, recreational angling is done with smaller boats that can be handled using a tractor. The locals maintain the old buildings so that the landing area is still authentic, including the coast guard station which is home to a small exhibition about the history of Stenbjerg with a special focus on coast guarding. A small, manned visitors’ centre for Thy National Park is located in one of the other houses.

eng.nationalparkthy.dk

map 31

MAP

STAGE 7 THYBORØN N VORUPØR

Campsites Ferry Train station Information Accommodation Shelter Shopping Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks Long-term parking 1 -6

Bathing beach Viewpoints Church

3 km

Highlights s. 91-93 West Coast Cycle Route

410

Panorama Route

MAP

Flade Sø

MAP

STAGE 7 THYBORØN N VORUPØR

Campsites

Long-term parking

Ferry

Bathing beach

Train station

Viewpoints

Information

MAP

Church

Accommodation

1 -6

Highlights s. 91-93

Shelter

1 -4

Highlights s. 103-104

Shopping

West Coast Cycle Route 411

Sea Mark

Panorama Route

Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks Stenbjerg Landingsplads

3 km 30

Activities, accommodation and eateries www.visit-nordvestkysten.com Tourist information Thyborøn, Kystcentervej 3, 7680 Thyborøn Agger, Vesterhavsvej, 7770 Vestervig Long-term parking Thyborøn, Kystcentervej, 7680 Thyborøn Agger Havn, Aggervej, 7770 Vestervig Arrival and departure Thyborøn Station Train from Vemb / Lemvig. In Lemvig, you can change trains to the connection to Struer, from which there are connections to the rest of the country. www.mjba.dk/english / dsb.dk/en Ferry between Thyborøn and Agger www.thyboronagger.dk

Stenbjerg Landingsplads

STAGE 8 VORUPØR HANSTHOLM You have been riding through Thy National Park already during your trip from Agger Tongue to Vorupør and stage 8 takes you through even more parts of this national park. In 2007, Thy National Park was chosen to be the first Danish national park. Nature is something special here and this area is also known as the largest wilderness area in Denmark. The national park stretches from Agger Tongue to Hanstholm. This stage starts in Vorupør and takes you through the beautiful dune landscape and dune plantations to Klitmøller. Depending on the weather, you will find people in wetsuits, enjoying the waves,

26 km 9 km gravel, 17 km asphalt

and local fishermen pulling up their small dinghies onto the beach or working on their cutters. White limestones piled up on the beach outside the restaurant of Hummerhuset is a special sight. The stones are from a limestone reef located just off the coast. From Klitmøller, the trip continues through the dune landscape towards Hanstholm. Several places along the way offer fantastic views of the sea through the dunes and in the heath area you will find the Hansthom Widlife Reserve where you might see a large group of red deer. Here and there you will find bunkers from WW II that look like small caves in the dune landscape.

21 m

14 km

VORUPØR

100

12 km Klitmøller

HANSTHOLM

VORUPØR

101

STAGE 8 HIGHLIGHTS

102

Vorupør

THE FISHING VILLAGE OF VORUPØR

NORDSØ AQUARIUM

Vorupør is a small, authentic fishing village where people have been doing coastal fishing for hundreds of years. Vorupør has some nice shops, and you can also sit on the large beach terrace facing the sea and enjoy an ice cream or a bite to eat. Vorupør is part of the area called “Cold Hawaii” so whenever the wind blows from the right direction, there is plenty of action at sea and lots of exciting happenings for the visitors on the beach to look at. Here you can also find a nice sea pool which is open to everyone and features a very high level of water safety. From Vorupør, you can follow Panorama Route 411.

Nordsø Aquarium is a salt water aquarium located in a former ice storage house in Vorupør. As a popular family experience, this aquarium allows you to get very close to the fascinating reality of the sea in 16 big salt water tanks. Here you can meet rare fish species from the North Sea and common fish species, such as cod, eel and plaice, up-close. All the fish were brought here by local fishermen.

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

www.north-sea.dk

map 31

map 32

map 31

map 32

103

THY NATIONAL PARK VISITOR’S CENTRE

THE AREA OF BØGSTED RENDE

Thy National Park Visitor’s Centre is located in the middle of Vorupør and has been built into an existing dune which now covers the indoor information areas and eliminates the sense of actually being inside a building. The combination of the dune, the square and the town remains intact, and the architecture concentrates on three big openings towards the dunes, the sea and the town. Amongst other things, the National Park Visitor’s Centre is home to a landscape model where you can get a good overview of the landscape features, pathways, towns, activities and stories.

Bøgsted Rende is the place on the coast of Thy where the dune plantation of Tvorup Klitplantage is closest to the sea. This area features the most stunning nature with lots of amazing contrasts. A narrow brook winds its way through the landscape heading for the sea. The sea mark, rising high above the vegetation and shaped like an hourglass, was built in 188485. These features turned the place into a popular day-trip destination many decades ago.

eng.nationalparkthy.dk

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

104

map 31

map 32

map 31

map 32

THE BEACHES OF KLITMØLLER & COLD HAWAII

BUNKERS SOUTH OF HANSTHOLM

Klitmøller is surrounded by the rough North Sea on one side and the scenic Thy National Park on the other side. Iconic fishing boats adorn the wide sandy beach and fishermen set out in their boats on the roaring sea side by side with the surfers. Klitmøller is located in the middle of the area called “Cold Hawaii” which is the name of 31 registered surf spots located on the West Coast of Thy from Agger Tongue in the south to the area just north of Hanstholm. People have been surfing in Klitmøller since the 1980s and the surfing culture is making an increasingly distinct mark on the town.

In the dunes south of Hanstholm, you will find the open-air museum of Frilandsmuseet Hanstholm, one of the most wellpreserved coastal gun batteries in Denmark. Frilandsmuseet Hanstholm is part of Bunkermuseum Hanstholm. Exploring these beautiful, undisturbed areas and the rugged bunker landscape is a great experience. There are 19 bunkers and most of them are accessible so that you can walk inside and imagine what it was like to lie here and guard a part of Skagerrak during WW II.

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

www.bunkermuseumhanstholm.dk/en

map 33

map 34

105

MAP

STAGE 8 VORUPØR N HANSTHOLM 3 km

106

MAP

Campsites

Long-term parking

Ferry

Bathing beach

Train station

Viewpoints

Information

Church

Accommodation

1 -6

Shelter Shopping

Klitmøller

Highlights s. 103-105 Nors Sø

West Coast Cycle Route 411

Panorama Route

Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services

Vandet Sø

Bicycle rental Food and drinks

107

MAP

STAGE 8 VORUPØR N HANSTHOLM 2

Campsites

Long-term parking

Ferry

Bathing beach

Train station

Viewpoints

Information

Church

Accommodation

1 -6

Highlights s. 103-105

Shelter

1 -2

Highlights s. 113

Shopping

35 1

West Coast Cycle Route

Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks

3 km 108

Klitmøller

Activities, accommodation and eateries www.visit-nordvestkysten.com Tourist information Thy Turistbureau, Jernbanegade 29, 7700 Thisted Long-term parking Vorupør, Hawblink (uden for byen), 7700 Thisted Arrival and departure Thisted Station Train to/from Struer. From there, trains to the rest of the country. www.arriva.dk / www.dsb.dk/en Bus to Vorupør / Klitmøller www.nordjyllandstrafikselskab.dk/english

109

STAGE 9 HANSTHOLM SLETTESTRAND From Hanstholm, the journey continues towards the beach of Slettestrand, starting by the coast on a cycle path through the dunes with a view to the sea and the inlet of Vigsø Bugt and then continuing inland through the plantation of Hjardemål Plantage and dune plantation of Vester Torup Klitplantage. From here, you can do a short detour to the idyllic beach of Lild Strand. The trip continues past the cliff of Bulbjerg Klint. Make sure to stop here and take in the vivid bird life and one of the most incredible views on the West Coast. You continue through the dune plantation of Vester Torup Klitplantage and by the beach of Thorup Strand, one more detour to the sea is an absolute must: here you can see the coastal landing area where customised, blue cutters are lined up on the beach – unless they are out at sea.

110

66 km 36 km gravel, 30 km asphalt

Before this stage ends in Slettestrand, you go through the plantation of Svinkløv Plantage and past the iconic hotel of Svinkløv Badehotel which is located in the outermost dunes and features breathtaking views of the landscape and the sea. In Svinkløv Plantage, you will most probably meet one or two mountain bikers. This is where you will find Mountain Bike Slettestrand, a company offering MTB holidays, camps, technique courses, events and much more. The plantation offers 35 kilometres of mountain bike trails, including some of the best trails in Denmark. One of the routes is categorised as one of the ”10 spires”, i.e. the 10 best MTB routes in the Danish public forests.

59 m

9,5 km

HANSTHOLM

24 km Vigsø

15,5 km Lild Strand

18,5 km Thorup Strand

3,5 km Svinkløv SLETTESTRAND

SLETTESTRAND

HANSTHOLM

111

STAGE 9 HIGHLIGHTS

112

Vigsø Batteriet

HANSTHOLM LIGHTHOUSE

BUNKERMUSEUM HANSTHOLM

Hanstholm Lighthouse was constructed in 1842-43 close to Hansted Church on top of the local cape and it was the first lighthouse to be built on the West Coast. A house for the lighthouse keeper was constructed south of the lighthouse and the adjoining garden is now a wonderful, wind-protected spot where visitors can take a break. The lighthouse is 23 metres tall and as it is located so high up, it manages a focal height of 65 metres above sea level. From the top, you can enjoy a wide view of the northern part of Thy National Park.

Bunkermuseum Hanstholm is the largest fortification from WW II in Northern Europe. The area consists of the impressive museum bunker of Hanstholm, measuring no less than 2,500 m², and many of the rooms have been re-established so that you can easily imagine the life of the soldiers back then. The bunker is also home to several exciting special exhibitions. The gun battery was constructed in 1941 and, together with a similar gun battery located by Kristiansand in Norway, it was supposed to block the entry to Skagerrak and keep the English fleet away.

www.hanstholmfyr.dk/english

www.bunkermuseumhanstholm.dk/en

map 34

map 35

map 34

map 35

113

THE VILLAGE OF LILD STRAND

BULBJERG CLIFF

Lild Strand is a small, cosy fishing village in northern Thy, also known as Hannæs. Lild Strand is located in the inlet of Vigsø Bugt between the North Sea and the dune plantation of Lild Klitplantage. In Lild Strand, the people still do coastal fishing and with a bit of luck, you can watch the fishermen pull their boats onto shore. Very close to Lild Strand is Lild Strandkær which is a natural, elongated dune lake that runs parallel to the coastline. From Lild Strand, you can easily walk to Bulbjerg on the beach.

Bulbjerg is the only cliff in Jutland and the only bird cliff on the mainland. From the top of this cliff, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the North Sea and on a clear day, you can even see the lighthouse of Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse and Hanstholm. This limestone cliff is also home to lots of bird species, including 500 kittiwake couples (the most common gull species in the world). Bulbjerg is constantly exposed to erosion caused by the violent waves from the North Sea that suck up big pieces of limestone and spread them out on the beach close to the cliff.

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

114

map 36

THE VILLAGE OF THORUPSTRAND

THE AREA OF SVINKLOVENE

Thorupstrand is a small fishing village but nevertheless also the largest coastal landing area in Northern Europe and the only active full-time industrial coastal landing area left in Denmark. This is an authentic and truly natural harbour where only environmentally-friendly fishing takes place. Seeing the big, clinker-built vessels on the beach and watching them being pulled out to sea or returned to shore is a great experience. You can grab a bite to eat in the small smokehouse by the beach.

Svinklovene is the name of a particularly rugged and beautiful landscape located by the north-western corner of the plantation of Svinkløv Plantage. From the top of this area, you have a breathtaking view of the inlet of Jammerbugten. In former times, the clefts, which were formed by soft chalk, used to stick out like chalk-white pieces of broken glass in the slope. Today, the chalk is still visible in some places but most of the area has been covered in vegetation. The area is located south-west of the famous and iconic hotel of Svinkløv Badehotel.

www.thorupstrand.dk

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

map 37

115

MAP

STAGE 9 HANSTHOLM N SLETTESTRAND

Campsites

Shopping

Long-term parking

Ferry

Sea Mark

Bathing beach

Train station

Toilet

Viewpoints

Information

Bicycle services

Church

Accommodation

Bicycle rental

Shelter

Food and drinks

1 -6

Highlights s. 113-115 West Coast Cycle Route

1168234

MAP

3 km

36 37

117

MAP

STAGE 9 HANSTHOLM N SLETTESTRAND

Campsites

Shelter

Bicycle rental

Ferry

Shopping

Train station Information Accommodation

Church

Food and drinks

1 -6

Highlights s. 113-115

Sea Mark

Long-term parking

1 -2

Highlights s. 125

Toilet

Bathing beach

Bicycle services

Viewpoints

West Coast Cycle Route 412

Panorama Route 38

11882

MAP

3 km

83119

Bulbjerg

Activities, accommodation and eateries www.visit-nordvestkysten.com Long-term parking Hanstholm, Bytorvet, 7730 Hanstholm Arrival and departure Thisted Station Train to/from Struer. From there, trains to the rest of the country. www.arriva.dk / www.dsb.dk/en Bus to Hanstholm www.nordjyllandstrafikselskab.dk/english

120

121

STAGE 10 SLETTESTRAND LØKKEN The 10th stage starts in Slettestrand and follows the coastline of the inlet of Jammerbugten past the beach of Tranum Strand and on to the dune plantation of Tranum Klitplantage, the town of Rødhus and the dune plantation of Blokhus Klitplantage. When you leave Blokhus Klitplantage, you can either turn right and continue north on West Coast Cycle Route or turn left towards the town of Blokhus which is always worth a visit. Here you can eat, shop and stay overnight. By Blokhus Gateway you can find hiking trails, a playground in the forest, outdoor fitness equipment and a mountain bike route. From Blokhus, the trip continues past the amusement park of Fårup Sommerland, one of the biggest attractions in Denmark, featuring

lots of wild, fun and crazy activities for the entire family. West Coast Cycle Route continues through the dune landscape, and you will pass several summer cottage areas and camp grounds. By the beach of Grønhøj Strand, you are literally on the coastline because West Coast Cycle Route now continues on the actual beach. Cycling by the water is a great experience; however, if the wind is not blowing your way, this can be a tough part of the trip. This stage ends after approx. 5 kilometres just south of the popular beach town Løkken. Be aware of the signs telling you where the route leads away from the beach. In Løkken, you can find plenty of good eateries and shops, and if you feel like it, you can jump into the sea with a surfboard by Løkken Pier or enjoy yourself in a sauna.

47 m

5 km

SLETTESTRAND

122

Tranum strand

11 km

7 km Rødhus

9 km Blokhus

10 km Saltum

7 km Grønhøj

LØKKEN

43 km 5 km sand, 18 km gravel, 20 km asphalt

LØKKEN

413

412

SLETTESTRAND

123

STAGE 10 HIGHLIGHTS

124

Fosdalen

THE AREA OF SLETTESTRAND

TRANUM HIKING TRAIL - FOSDALEN

Slettestrand is a recreational area surrounded by beautiful and varied nature. In Slettestrand, the maritime culture is still going strong, and it is one of the main features of this area. At the shipyard of Han Herred Havbåde, traditional sea vessels belonging to the fishermen in northern Jutland are preserved, rebuilt, and then launched from the beach. The plantation by Slettestrand/ Svinkløv is the perfect base for an active holiday. Here you can also find lots of hiking and riding trails. In addition, this area offers some of the best mountain bike routes in Denmark.

If you would like to add a hike to your cycle trip, the hiking route Tranum-Fosdal offers a wonderful round trip of 11 kilometres from the playground of Skovlegepladsen in Tranum, approx. 4 kilometres from West Coast Cycle Route. The route takes you past the highest point of the inlet of Jammerbugten, Bavnehøj, and then past the hills of Ingeborgs Bakker to Fosdalen. You return by walking the top of the inland slope of Lien where you can enjoy some fantastic views of the sea. Deutsches Wanderinstitut has certified this route as a premium hiking route. You can shorten the route by following 5 different signposted shortcuts. In this area, you can also follow Panorama Route 412.

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

map 38

map 39

map 38

map 39

125

THE AREA OF BLOKHUS

THE HILLS OF KETTRUP BJERGE

There are many good reasons why Blokhus attracts thousands of holiday-makers year after year. Blokhus is a charming holiday paradise featuring nice eateries, lots of shopping and plenty of places to stay overnight. The Blokhus area offers lots of family activities, including an amusement park, a colourful garden, a museum for paper arts and a gateway in the forest. For a special experience, you can drive a car on the beach from Rødhus to Løkken and parts of your cycle trip going north from Blokhus also takes you onto this “beach road”. From Blokhus, you can also follow Panorama Route 413.

When you cycle between Saltum and Grønhøj, you will experience the rugged landscape of Kettrup Bjerge. Featuring lots of hill tops and green meadows, Kettrup Bjerge is a wonderful place to be for all nature lovers. Kettrup Bjerge is a popular hiking area and the peak of Ørnbjerg, at 43 metres, offers a great overview of the area. On a clear day, you can even see Hanstholm and Rubjerg Knude from Ørnbjerg. On Ørnbjerg, you will also find a coastal fortification featuring 23 bunkers and canons which are remnants from WW II.

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

126

map 40

map 41

LØKKEN PIER

BØRGLUM MONESTARY

Løkken Pier is a 200 metres long pier, perfect for a relaxing stroll, where you can look at Løkken from the water or enjoy a proper West Coast sunset up front. Renovated in 2015, the pier now offers sunny sitting areas and new facilities for anglers. Very often, you can watch surfers having fun in the waves which are created by the pier. The pier of Løkken Læmole was originally built from 1927 to 1931 and then rebuilt in the 1950s, its primary purpose being to protect the fishermen from the wind whilst they pull their boats onto shore.

Børglum Monestary started out as a “kongsgård” before becoming a diocese and a monastery. The monastery was built from 1035 to 1220. Over the years, the old walls of Børglum Monestary have witnessed many dramatic events, including violent Viking kinds, harsh bishops, tough squires and devoted monks. Today, exhibitions and activities are the only things waiting for you around the next corner. By the monastery, you will find Børglum Møllehøj, a burial mound, and and Børglum Monestary Mill. From the top of the hill, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the entire area of Vendsyssel.

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

www.boerglumkloster.dk/en

map 42

map 43

map 42

map 43

127

MAP

STAGE 10 SLETTESTRAND N LØKKEN

12882

MAP

Campsites

Bicycle rental

Ferry

Food and drinks

Train station

Long-term parking

Information

Bathing beach

Accommodation

Viewpoints

Church

Shelter Shopping

1 -6

Highlights s. 125-127 West Coast Cycle Route

Sea Mark 412

Toilet

Panorama Route

Bicycle services

3 km

129

MAP

STAGE 10 SLETTESTRAND N LØKKEN

Saltum Strand

13082

MAP

Campsites

Long-term parking

Ferry

Bathing beach

Train station

Viewpoints

Information Accommodation

Church 1 -6

Shelter

Highlights s. 125-127 West Coast Cycle Route

413

Shopping

Panorama Route

Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks

3 km 41

83131

Løkken

132

Activities, accommodation and eateries www.visit-nordvestkysten.com Tourist information Blokhus Turistinfo, Torvet 3, 9492 Blokhus Long-term parking Svinkløv, Sletteåvej, 9690 Fjerritslev Arrival and departure Aalborg Station From there, trains to the rest of the country. www.dsb.dk/en Bus to Slettestrand (via Fjerritslev) or Blokhus www.nordjyllandstrafikselskab.dk/english Bus Aalborg Airport to/from Blokhus www.aal.dk/frontpage

133

STAGE 11 LØKKEN HIRTSHALS

42 km 9 km gravel, 33 km asphalt

The 11th stage starts in Løkken. First, you pass the summer cottage area of Nr. Lyngby where many of the houses are standing right on the edge and are in danger of falling into the sea. The North Sea knows no mercy and it drags along whatever happens to be in its way. The famous lighthouse of Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse used to be in a dangerous spot but in 2019 it was moved further inland, safeguarding it for many years to come. This lighthouse and the cliff of Rubjerg Knude Klinten are a must on your journey. The idyllic artists’ town of Lønstrup is the perfect place to stop if you are feeling hungry or need a place to stay for the night. At Skallerup

Seaside Resort, you can try out various activities, enjoy the wellness facilities or grab a bite to eat at one of the resort restaurants. Now, West Coast Cycle Route continues inland through the dune plantation of Tornby Klitplantage, the town of Tornby and the adjoining summer cottage area, and then the 11th stage ends in the town of Hirtshals. Hirtshals is a proper seaport where fishing still plays a vital role. Here you can eat and shop, and if you need a place to stay for the night, you will find plenty of nice alternatives here. Remember to visit visit Hirtshals Lighthouse which is the landmark of Hirtshals.

40 m

6 km

LØKKEN

134

9 km Nr. Lyngby

7 km Lønstrup

11 km Skallerup Klit

12 km Tornby

HIRTSHALS

415

414

LØKKEN

135

STAGE 11 HIGHLIGHTS

Rubjerg Knude

136

RUBJERG KNUDE LIGHTHOUSE

THE TOWN OF LØNSTRUP

Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse is located on the impressive migrating dune of Rubjerg Knude which reaches almost 100 metres above sea level at the highest point. Slowly but surely, the sea is eating away the coast and several metres disappear every year. Although Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse was located 200 metres from the shore when it was completed in 1900, it was in 2019 located just a few metres from the edge due to erosion. Same year locals decided to move the lighthouse 70 metres further inland on the cliff, hoping to safeguard the lighthouse for another 30 years or longer.

Lønstrup is an old fishing village which has now been turned into a beach town paradise with a very special atmosphere. The town is located right by the sea on top of the cliff of Lønstrup Klint. It is very well-known for its arts and handicrafts, and this is the town with the highest percentage of artists, compared to the total population, in Denmark. In many places, you can visit open workshops and get very close to the arts. Apart from numerous arts and crafts shops, the town also features lots of eateries and places to stay overnight.

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

map 44

137

THE DUNE PLANTATION OF TORNBY KLITPLANTAGE

HIRTSHALS LIGHTHOUSE

Tornby Klitplantage is a typical plantation on the West Coast, situated by the coastline just a few kilometres south of Hirtshals. This plantation was established from 1910 to 1930. The vegetation border towards the sea follows a 15-25 metres tall former sea slope which is divided by river valleys. At the slope base, you will find yourself standing on a raised Stone Age seabed featuring white sea dunes. Tornby Klitplantage offers various activities, including mountain bike trails, riding trails, hiking routes and cycle paths. Here you can also visit the Viking fortress of Yxenborg which is used for plays and other cultural events.

Located on the top of Stenbjerg, Hirtshals Lighthouse is a beautiful landmark for Hirtshals. It was inaugurated in 1863 and was built during the period when Frederic VII was king. The monogram of the king adorns the tower right above the entrance door. Hirtshals Lighthouse is 35 metres tall and reaches a focal height of 57 metres. 144 steps take you to the top where you can enjoy a fantastic view of Skagerrak and Vendsyssel. During the main holiday season, the lighthouse is home to a small coffee house where you can buy home-made cakes.

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

www.hirtshals-fyrtaarn.dk

138

map 45

map 46

THE TOWN AND HARBOUR OF HIRTSHALS

THE NORTH SEA OCEANARIUM

Hirtshals is a maritime centre and features one of the largest industrial harbours in Denmark along with a fascinating coastal town centre, a lovely beach, and a nice pedestrian zone. The history behind the local fishing activities, including how the sea has made up the lifeblood of this town for the last hundreds of years, unfolds when you walk through town and visit the harbour. The distance from the cutter to the table is very short at the eateries in Hirtshals and very often, the fish are taken directly from the fish auction to the shops and restaurants. You can also find a selection of nice places to stay in this town. From Hirtshals, you can follow Panorama Route 414 or 415.

This, the largest aquarium in northern Europe, offers an exciting journey below the surface of the sea. An indoor area of 10,000 m², an outdoor area of 5,000 m², 75 tanks and more than 7,000 fish and other sea animals make sure that you can spend an entire day here in the wet element. Explore the seven destinations, dive all the way down to the bottom of the sea, crawl around on a shipwreck, catch crabs with your bare hands and feel the power of nature. Pat a starfish on the back, face a seal and search for the gold of the North Sea. Big SEA experiences are waiting for you, both indoors and outdoors.

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

en.nordsoenoceanarium.dk

map 45

map 46

map 45

map 46

139

MAP

STAGE 11 LØKKEN N HIRTSHALS

Campsites

Long-term parking

Ferry

Bathing beach

Train station

Viewpoints

Information

Church

Accommodation

5-6

Highlights s. 127

Shelter

1 -6

Highlights s. 137-139

Shopping

West Coast Cycle Route

Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks

5 6

3 km 140

MAP

141

MAP

STAGE 11 LØKKEN N HIRTSHALS Ferry

1 -6

Train station Information Shelter

West Coast Cycle Route 414

415

Campsites Accommodation Shopping Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks Long-term parking Bathing beach Viewpoints Church 14282

Highlights s. 137-139

Panorama Route Panorama Route

KORT

53 Hirtshals

Activities, accommodation and eateries https://en.nordsoenoceanarium.dk/ Tourist information Løkken Turistbureau, Jyllandsgade 15, 9480 Løkken Lønstrup Turistbureau, Strandvejen 90, 9800 Hjørring Long-term parking Løkken, Harald Fischers Vej, 9480 Løkken

Arrival and departure Hjørring Station From there, connections to the rest of the country. www.arriva.dk / www.dsb.dk/en www.nordjyllandstrafikselskab.dk/english Bus to Løkken www.nordjyllandstrafikselskab.dk/english Bus Aalborg Airport to/from Løkken www.aal.dk/frontpage

143

STAGE 12 HIRTSHALS SKAGEN

56 km 20 km gravel, 36 km asphalt

The last stage of West Coast Cycle Route starts in the seaport of Hirtshals. From here, your journey continues to Grenen, the northernmost tip of Denmark. The route takes you through the plantation of Uggerby Plantage where you cycle right by the sea, across the stream of Uggerby Å and continue through the area of Tversted. In the dune plantation of Tversted Klitplantage, you will pass the lakes of Tversted Søerne which is a nice place for a short break. Once you have passed the campsite of Skiveren Camping, the route continues slightly inland through the most beautiful dune and heath landscape. You will cycle past the migrating coastal dune of Råbjerg Mile before almost reaching the eastern coastline of Jutland. Your

journey towards the town of Skagen takes you through the dune plantation of Skagen Klitplantage and past The Sand-covered Church (Den Tilsandede Kirke). There are only a limited number of places to shop for food and drinks along this route, so remember to bring lunch. West Coast Cycle Route quite naturally ends at the parking lot by Grenen and from here you can either walk or use the tractor bus to get to the northernmost tip of Denmark. The town of Skagen is well-known for its characteristic yellow houses, the red tiles and the white “lace” on the roofs. But Skagen is also full of town life, good restaurants, and nice coffee houses. Here you can stay overnight in wonderful hotels, and you should allow yourself plenty of time to visit the historical museums in town, go shopping or explore the atmosphere in the marina and in the commercial harbour.

24 m

17 km

HIRTSHALS

144

8 km Tversted

15 km Skiveren

13 km Hulsig

SKAGEN

HIRTSHALS

416

145

STAGE 12 HIGHLIGHTS

146

Skagen

THE TOWN OF TVERSTED

EAGLE WORLD (ØRNERESERVATET)

Tversted is a classic beach town featuring amazing sunsets, beach vibes, arts, and a true holiday feeling. At the beach of Tversted Strand, you are allowed to drive a car in both directions but there is also a fenced-in area where cars are prohibited. Remember to visit one of the ice cream shops if you visit Tversted during the summer. The dunes of Tversted are home to several bunkers but they are well-hidden and some of them are now used as garages, wine cellars or for other purposes.

Eagle World lets you get close to the kings of the sky, the eagles, when they unfold their wings right above your head. Here you can watch the sea eagle with its enormous wingspan, the golden eagle, who is without doubt the best hunter of big game in the sky, and the peregrine falcon and the gyrfalcon with their unmatched ways of flying and their hunting techniques. In this sanctuary, you learn how to admire and understand the raptors and you can watch the falconers train their falcons. Apart from the shows, you can also enjoy a stroll through the exhibition areas, including some beautiful nature photos of raptors.

www.visit-nordvestkysten.com

www.eagleworld.dk/en

map 47

147

THE MIGRATING DUNE OF RÅBJERG MILE

THE SAND-COVERED CHURCH

Råbjerg Mile is the largest migrating dune in Denmark which has not been halted by vegetation. This amazing natural scene is an obvious destination during your cycle trip. The dune consists of a 1,000 metres long and 1,000 metres wide sand pile which is as tall as 40 metres above sea level at the highest point. Every year, the wind moves the dune 15 metres to the east/north towards Kattegat. It leaves behind a low and moist sand surface which reaches westwards towards Skagerrak where Råbjerg Mile was established more than 300 years ago.

In the dunes west of Skagen is the tower of the former parish church, the Middle Age church of Sct. Laurentius, which is said to have been constructed in the last half of the 1300s. This is where the congregation would meet up for 400 years before the sand covered the church road and the graveyard and the church was closed. Apart from the church tower, the ground plan has been marked with red poles, and fascine poles mark the known parts of the old graveyard wall. Approx. 400 metres from the sand-covered church is a parking lot with tables, benches, and toilet facilities. During the summer, you will also find a small shop where you can buy your ticket to enter the church tower.

www.enjoynordjylland.com

148

map 48

(DEN TILSANDEDE KIRKE)

map 49

SK AGEN MUSEUM

THE AREA OF GRENEN

During the end of the 1800s, Skagen became the home of an artists’ settlement, mainly made up of Scandinavian painters. Skagens Museum offers paintings, drawings and sculptures made by the numerous artists who visited Skagen in the period from 1870 to 1930. The museum is home to major work by P.S. Krøyer, Anna Ancher and Laurits Tuxen who painted some of the most famous Danish paintings. Apart from this collection, the museum also offers temporary exhibitions. In the museum gardens, you will find ”Havehuset” which was the first home of painters Anna and Michael Ancher. Today, Havehuset is a coffee house where you can buy home-made cakes.

Grenen is the tip of Jutland where the two seas Skagerrak and Kattegat meet. Standing at the outermost tip of Jutland and the European mainland, watching the waves from the two seas hit each other, is a great experience. From the parking lot on Grenen, there are several hiking paths and one of them is suitable for bikes. From Easter to week 43, you can jump on the tractor bus “Sandormen” at the parking lot and the bus will take you all the way out to the tip of Grenen. “Sandormen” has been running for more than 50 years and has become part of the local history. .

www.skagenskunstmuseer.dk/en

www.enjoynordjylland.com

map 49

149

MAP

STAGE 12 HIRTSHALS N SKAGEN

Campsites

Shopping

Long-term parking

4-6

Highlights s. 138-139

Ferry

Sea Mark

Bathing beach

1 -6

Highlights s. 147-149

Train station

Toilet

Viewpoints

Information Accommodation Shelter

5 4

15082

Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks

Church

West Coast Cycle Route 414

415

416

Panorama Route Panorama Route Panorama Route

MAP

3 km

151

MAP

STAGE 12 HIRTSHALS N SKAGEN

Campsites

Long-term parking

Ferry

Bathing beach

Train station

Viewpoints

Information

Church

Accommodation

1 -6

Shelter Shopping Sea Mark Toilet Bicycle services Bicycle rental Food and drinks

15282

Highlights s. 147-149 West Coast Cycle Route

416

Panorama Route

MAP

3 km 48

83153

Skagen

154

Activities, accommodation and eateries www.enjoynordjylland.com www.visit-nordvestkysten.com Tourist information Hirtshals, Jørgen Fibigersgade 26, 1. sal, 9850 Hirtshals Skagen, Sankt Laurentii Vej 6B, 9990 Skagen Long-term parking Montra Skaga Hotel, Willemoesvej 1, 9850 Hirtshals Arrival and departure Hirtshals Station / Skagen Station Local train from Aalborg. From there, connections to the rest of the country. www.nordjyllandstrafikselskab.dk/english / www.dsb.dk/en Bus to Hirtshals and Skagen www.nordjyllandstrafikselskab.dk/english 155

PHOTO CREDIT

WEST COAST CYCLE ROUTE GUIDEBOOK

Regarding the photos in the cycle guide, the following are credited with reference to page and statement of r for photos on the right and l for photos on the left.

Adam Mørk 23 Dansk Kyst- og Naturturisme 91v, 149h, 37v Destination Vesterhavet 69h Destination Sønderjylland 23v Erich Jacobi 5 Fiskeri- og Søfartsmuseet 48v Flying October forsidefoto, 5, 10, 13, 14, 31, 34, 35v, 35h, 36v, 37h, 43, 46, 47v, 47h, 49h, 55, 58, 59v, 60v, 61v, 61h, 65, 68, 69v, 70v, 70h, 71h, 75, 78, 79v, 79h, 80v, 80h, 81v, 81h, 87, 90, 91h, 92h, 93v, 93h, 99, 102, 103v, 103h, 104v, 105h, 109, 112, 113v, 113h, 114v, 114h, 115v, 115h, 121, 124, 125v, 125h, 126v, 126h, 127v, 127h, 132, 136, 137v, 137h, 138h, 139v, 139h, 143, 147v Frame&Work 59h, 71v Jacob Lisbygd 22h Kystcentret 92 Mads Gregersen 148h

Mark Trustrup 148v Mark Wengler 105v Mette Johnsen 146, 154 Mikkel Jezequel 48v Morten Rasmussen 80h Museum Sønderjylland 20 Nationalparkcenter Thy 104v Nicklas Jessen 9 Niels Linneberg 60h Ribe Vikingecenter 36h Skagens Museer 149v Schackenborg Slot 21v Torben Meyer 38 Ulrik Pedersen 21h Varde Museum 48h Visit Hirtshals 138v Visit Rømø & Tønder 22v Ørnereservatet 147h

1st edition, 1st impression 2021 Publisher: Dansk Kyst- og Naturturisme, Destination Sønderjylland, Destination Vadehavet, Destination Vesterhavet, Destination Nordvestkysten Layout: Flying October Cartography: Flying October Photo credit: See page 156 Credit: OpenStreetMaps contributors All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in electronic media, copied mechanically, photographically or otherwise without written consent from the copyright owner. Copyright owner is the publisher.

This book has been supported with funds from

156

DOWNLOAD VESTKYSTEN Din officielle rejseguide

GRATIS KOSTENLOS FREE

VESTK YSTEN appen er udgivet af VisitVadehavskysten, VisitVesterhavet og VisitNordvestkysten, i samarbejde med Dansk Kyst- og Naturturisme og VisitDenmark

Støttet med midler fra

Ihr offizieller Reiseführer / Your official travel guide

WEST COAST CYCLE ROUTE GUIDEBOOK 560 KILOMETRES THROUGH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DANISH NATURE Danish National Cycle Route No. 1 is one of the longest marked routes in Denmark and probably the most varied, challenging, and amazing cycling experience to be had in Denmark. Using the North Sea as a dependable guide, West Coast Cycle Route continues effortless and at times with a constant cross wind through natural and cultural landscapes that are several thousand years old. Fresh sea air, room for contemplation and beautiful West Coast sunsets are guaranteed.

In short, West Coast Cycle Route is a 560 kilometres long story about life lived on nature’s terms. The kind of nature that can be beautiful and evocative but also rough and almost mystical. A breath-taking and fantastic cycling experience, whatever the weather. Find out more at www.vestkystruten.dk/en ISBN 978-87-973386-1-2

9 788797 338612

West Coast Cycle Route Guidebook

Articles inside

VESTKYSTEN APP

ACCOMMODATION ACTIVITIES AND EATERIES

PLAN YOUR TRIP

PHOTO CREDIT

5 WATER SAFETY GUIDELINES

TAKE GOOD CARE OF NATURE

WEST COAST CYCLE ROUTE

MARINE LITTER ON THE WEST COAST

PANORAMA ROUTES